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Resource Pack contents: Republic of Ireland | Northern Ireland

Crossing Borders: Resource Pack for Social Workers (N.I.):
Organisational structure and policy

A grasp of the political systems shaping social services in a particular State is essential to efficient social work practice. In each jurisdiction there are also important channels through which social workers can exert influence on social policy. This section provides an introduction to and reference points on government structures, social security systems and major social policy areas in the Republic of Ireland and the North of Ireland.

North of Ireland - State and government

As a result of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, May 1998, power was devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and its Executive Committee of Ministers in December 1999. Previously, since May 1974, the North of Ireland was governed by direct rule from Westminster, and administered by the Northern Ireland Office. The Assembly was to be the prime source of authority for all devolved responsibilities and had the power to make laws and take decisions on all the functions of the Northern Ireland government departments. However, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland suspended the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive with effect from midnight on 14 October 2002. Since then the Secretary of State, assisted by a team of Ministers, has assumed responsibility for the direction and control of the Northern Ireland departments. At the time of writing negotiations are underway between the political parties aimed at re-establishing the Assembly.

Government departments of particular relevance to social workers

Review of Public Administration (RPA)
In March 2006 the Secretary of State announced the final decisions arising from a wide-ranging Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland. The RPA proposed significant reforms of the system of public administration, which include major restructuring of councils, education and health and social services agencies. Full details of the Review findings and proposals may be obtained from the RPA website.

An overview of the overall changes as announced by the Secretary of State is contained in Better Government for Northern Ireland: Final Decisions of the Review of Public Administration, RPA, March 2006 Web: www.rpani.gov.uk

In relation to social services the following changes will be implemented:

• The four Health and Social Services Boards will be replaced with a new statutory Strategic Health and Social Services Authority which will be responsible for performance managing the health and social services.
• Some of the functions currently carried out by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety will transfer to the new Authority and the Department will become significantly smaller with a primary function of setting policy and targets.
• Seven primary care-led Local Commissioning Groups will be established as local offices of the Strategic Health and Social Services Authority. These Local Commissioning Groups will work in conjunction with local primary care practitioners and the Authority to commission services from Trusts.
• Five new integrated Health and Social Services Trusts will replace 18 of the 19 existing Trusts and will become fully operational by 1 April 2007.
• A new Patient and Client Council will be established to promote health and wellbeing, and ensure that services are responsive and patient-centred.

At the time of writing, it is proposed that the new Trusts will be operational from April 2007.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is in charge of health, social services, public health and safety, and health promotion. It sets the strategy and policies for health and personal social services, and secures their funding and delivery through the Health and Social Services Boards as purchasers, and Trusts and general practitioners as service providers.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SJ.
Tel: (028) 90520500. Fax: (028) 90520572. Web: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk

The Northern Ireland Office
The Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland is overseen by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), which has responsibility for Northern Ireland's constitutional and security issues, in particular, law and order, political affairs, policing and criminal justice.

Department of Education
The Department of Education is responsible for all policy, legislation and resource issues relating to schools, the Youth Service and the Education and Library Boards.

Department of Education, Rathgael House, Bangor, Co. Down. BT19 7PR.
Tel: 028 9127 9279 Fax: 028 9127 9100 E-mail: mail@deni.gov.uk - Web: www.deni.gov.uk

Under the RPA the role of the Department of Education will be more tightly focussed on policy formulation and setting the overall strategic direction of the education and youth sector. A new Education and Skills Authority will be set up to support the operational delivery of education across Northern Ireland. This will include assuming responsibility for the functions currently undertaken by the 5 Education and Library Boards.

Department for Social Development
The Department for Social Development has strategic responsibility for urban regeneration, community and voluntary sector development, social and charities legislation, social security benefits, housing policy, pension schemes and child support. Associated agencies include the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Department for Social Development, James House, 2 - 4 Cromac Avenue, Gasworks Business Park, Belfast BT7 2JA.
Tel: (028) 9081 9827 - Web: www.dsdni.gov.uk

Local government
Local government in the North of Ireland consists of district councils (12) and borough councils (14). The roles of the councils are:

• executive; i.e. local service provision in areas such as building control, sanitation, tourism development and culture;
• representative; members of the council sit on a number of statutory boards;
• consultative; government departments that deal with regional issues are obliged to consult with the council and the local population.

Under the proposals from the RPA, local councils will have responsibility for a wider range of functions. In addition the number of councils will reduce to 7.

Service provision

Health services
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety holds the overall responsibility for the health services. The UK-wide National Health Service (NHS) provides free medical treatment at hospitals and general surgeries to all who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom but requires payment for optical and dental treatment, and prescriptions. Immediate first aid /emergency treatment is free for all visitors, after which charges are made unless the visitor's country has a reciprocal health agreement with the United Kingdom.

Statutory health and social care services are managed under parallel structures within the Health and Social Services Boards - referred to as the integrated service. Private health care is also available.

Social security
The Department for Social Development is responsible for the social security system, through a network of local social security offices. Legislation on social security rates and structures emanates from the United Kingdom Government. The Northern Ireland Social Security Agency was set up in 1991 and its main business is to assess and pay social security benefits and give advice and information about social security schemes. The agency is responsible for the administration of various benefits including child support, disability living allowance, income support, jobseeker's allowance, old person's pension and sickness benefit.

The responsibility for administering benefits locally lies with social security offices. Social workers may co-operate with social security officers in relation to some clients.

A full list of local social security offices is available on the Department for Social Development website Web: www.dsdni.gov.uk

Social workers may also be able to access some financial assistance from outside the statutory sector on behalf of clients. Some charitable organisations have funds that can be accessed by submission / letter. Information on relevant organisations is often available in the social work department.

Social policy
Understanding social work practice fully in the North of Ireland must include a consideration of the diverse policy agendas, which shape professional decision-making. As Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, policy decisions made in Whitehall will also impact on social policy in the North of Ireland. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is responsible for developing social care policy. Other government departments are responsible for developing policy in their areas, which may also influence the development of social care policy. Some current key priorities are:

• reform of public administration
• modernising health and social services
• strengthening regulation
• combating social exclusion

Health and Social Services Boards are responsible for the development, promotion and delivery of both health and social services. Whilst this "integrated" system has many advantages, it can mean that social work staff members are managed by other health professionals.

Another important aspect of social work practice in the North of Ireland is the particular challenge for social workers working in a society emerging from conflict. Issues include sectarianism and problems resulting from violence such as post-traumatic stress syndrome.

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